Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellinzona and Meilen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bellinzona and Meilen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,580 per month in Bellinzona vs $3,432 in Meilen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,462 per month in Bellinzona vs $6,009 in Meilen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,343 per month in Bellinzona vs $8,587 in Meilen, rent included.

Bellinzona costs about 4% more than Meilen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bellinzona and Meilen sit above the global median – Bellinzona by 161%, Meilen by 150%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.83 CHF 25.06

$31.03 CHF 25.22

-0.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 CHF 102

$122 CHF 99.3

2.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.22 CHF 14.82

$16.91 CHF 13.75

7.75%

Cappuccino

$4.81 CHF 3.91

$6.59 CHF 5.35

-27.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 CHF 4.29

$5.82 CHF 4.73

-9.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 CHF 3.72

$5.37 CHF 4.36

-14.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.52 CHF 6.11

$8.83 CHF 7.18

-14.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 CHF 4.88

$8.97 CHF 7.29

-33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 CHF 1.80

$2.24 CHF 1.82

-1.34%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 CHF 3.30

$3.44 CHF 2.80

18.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.34 CHF 3.53

$3.99 CHF 3.24

8.77%

Eggs

$7.88 CHF 6.41

$8.14 CHF 6.62

-3.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.10 CHF 22.04

$27.70 CHF 22.52

-2.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$31.49 CHF 25.60

$26.04 CHF 21.17

20.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.78 CHF 34.78

$41.39 CHF 33.65

3.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 CHF 3.01

$3.69 CHF 3.00

0.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 CHF 1.62

$2.12 CHF 1.72

-5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 CHF 2.32

$2.70 CHF 2.19

5.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 CHF 5.13

$4.65 CHF 3.78

35.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CHF 1.62

$2.03 CHF 1.65

-1.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CHF 1.79

$2.25 CHF 1.83

-2.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CHF 2.05

$2.50 CHF 2.04

1.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 CHF 1.09

$1.30 CHF 1.06

3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.27 CHF 9.16

$11.11 CHF 9.03

1.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.82 CHF 15.30

$13.63 CHF 11.08

38.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CHF 2.40

$2.31 CHF 1.88

27.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 CHF 3.25

$2.87 CHF 2.33

39.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 CHF 2.32

$4.38 CHF 3.56

-34.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$123 CHF 100

$104 CHF 84.2

18.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 CHF 6.07

$8.00 CHF 6.50

-6.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.70 CHF 4.63

$4.70 CHF 3.82

21.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$81.2 CHF 66.0

$88.6 CHF 72.0

-8.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.27 CHF 1.85

$2.28 CHF 1.85

-0.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.1K CHF 28.5K

$40.7K CHF 33.1K

-13.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.9K CHF 33.3K

$41.3K CHF 33.6K

-0.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$301 CHF 245

$209 CHF 170

43.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$37.65 CHF 30.61

$39.15 CHF 31.83

-3.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 CHF 52.7

$67.4 CHF 54.8

-3.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$151 CHF 123

$93.6 CHF 76.1

61.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.3 CHF 45.76

$46.36 CHF 37.69

21.42%

Cinema Ticket

$24.17 CHF 19.65

$22.36 CHF 18.18

8.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,845 CHF 1,500

$2,888 CHF 2,348

-36.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K CHF 28.3K

$42.4K CHF 34.4K

-17.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$167 CHF 136

$141 CHF 115

18.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 CHF 46.94

$60.1 CHF 48.83

-3.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$192 CHF 156

$153 CHF 124

25.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$152 CHF 123

$175 CHF 142

-13.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,592 CHF 1,295

$1,786 CHF 1,452

-10.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,413 CHF 1,149

$1,480 CHF 1,203

-4.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,541 CHF 2,066

$2,927 CHF 2,380

-13.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,601 CHF 2,115

$4,153 CHF 3,377

-37.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K CHF 11.2K

$16.7K CHF 13.5K

-17.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K CHF 8,637

$12.7K CHF 10.3K

-16.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,876 CHF 5,590

$8,450 CHF 6,870

-18.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

1.72

29.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bellinzona: August 31, 2026

Last update for Meilen: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,592 in Bellinzona versus $1,786 in Meilen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Meilen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $125 in Bellinzona versus $122 in Meilen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $649 vs $589 – making Meilen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bellinzona vs Meilen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,580 in Bellinzona, $3,432 in Meilen – roughly 4% apart. Bellinzona costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,370 per month in Bellinzona and $5,148 in Meilen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Meilen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,580 in Bellinzona and $3,432 in Meilen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Meilen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,580 in Bellinzona and $3,432 in Meilen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Meilen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Meilen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellinzona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.